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The Last Roundup (January 21st 2012, 22 minutes)

Summary: Applejack goes AWOL.

The title of this episode is also a song from 1933, written by Billy Hill and covered by numerous musicians including Gene Autry and Dean Martin. There were several films by that name, ranging from a 1929 silent film, through a 1934 film, and a more well known 1947 one with Gene Autry again. There's no real connection between any of these and this episode beyond the title, but I have no doubt that there's a Gene Autry fan (or more likely the child or grandchild of a Gene Autry fan) on the staff of MLP.

Applejack running hurdles. The design of the hurdles and the variety of them likely mean this is a Timber Steeplechase, a standard horse racing event where the hurdles are solid (rather than brush) but you are still allowed to hit the hurdles as long as you don't knock the bar off. You'd get a time penalty for 'broken' hurdles.

Hammer throw using a bale of hay. This would be a more modern form of the Hammer throw, as the older form used a weight on the end of a solid handle, rather than a flexible one.

Rodeo is apparently a standard sporting event in Equestria. Not really that surprising.

Heya Derpy.

Interesting that *Canterlot* is having the Equestria Rodeo, I would not have put that as something the Canterlot ponies would enjoy.

Okay, that's a little freaky that they're all ceasing to 'clap' with one simultaneous stomp.

Right Pinkie Pie limbering lips. There's my nightmare fuel for the day.

The mail pony looks like the male equivalent to the Fleur de Lis body style.

Twilight's not a little rude there.

That's a relatively large number of Apples present at this surprise party. They must have come special.

Interesting, this is the Canterlot rodeo, right? Yet they're all Earth Ponies, not one Unicorn. And the desert area is suspiciously close by. Where the heck are we?

No toilets on the train, apparently.

Dodge Junction. Old steam trains only had so much range, and water and fuel had to be taken onboard on a fairly regular basis. When multiple railways were built to cover areas, these refueling stations were top of the list to run junctions that would allow trains to switch between lines. Towns grew up around these expanded stations to service the trains, provide relief for long-distance passengers, and so on.

That's quite an elaborate hairdo for a rancher.

Cherry orchards are quite common in 'desert' areas, as they prefer well-drained almost sandy soil. At least, that's what my wife tells me, and she grew up on an orchard.

Interesting, as yellow cherries are likely Rainier or Royal Ann cherries that are a specific breed from the Pacific Northwest. Which doesn't jive with the vaguely Texan flavor that this episode seem to be trying to give to Dodge Junction and it's inhabitants.

When did this switch to the I Love Lucy show? Mind you, that is Lucille Ball's best known gag, and it's still funny.

I've never actually had a kumquat. I understand it's basically a sour orange, but I'm curious now.

Poor Applejack, does anyone really deserve being Pinkie'd like that?

Yes, apparently she does. Breaking a Pinkie Promise. Tsk. Tsk.

A larger variety of hats being shown here, much more accurate to the actual Old West than all Stetsons. Not enough bowlers though.

"Rarity catch me!" That's funnier than it should be, due to personal events.

Okay, so regular carts can be used as sky chariots, but only for a limited amount of time and took considerable effort from RD and Fluttershy to pull off. That makes sense, and likely means there's something special about the construction of pegasi chariots.